Blue drum murder: Why executing women on death row takes years

Death sentences handed to Muskan Rastogi and Sahil Shukla in Meerut's blue drum murder case have renewed attention on India's death row. 21 of India's 571 death row prisoners are women, including nine from UP. Trial court death sentences require mandatory High Court confirmation, alongside potential SC appeals, review petitions and presidential mercy pleas, which can delay executions for years.